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Style Icon: Marilyn Monroe

To commemorate what would been her 90th birthday, we've
taken a trip down memory lane to look at the life and style of the
much loved actress Marilyn Monroe.

Words by Olivia Girling

From her humble beginnings in minor film roles, to Golden Globe
nominations, Monroe managed to solidify her position as one of the
most well-known Hollywood actresses of all time. Although she was
only a top-billed actress for just over 10 years, her iconic red
lip, beauty mark, and platinum blonde hair is likely to never be
forgotten. From a troubled childhood to a widely celebrated career,
delve a little deeper into the icon's life. Maybe you'll learn
something new today!

Early Life

Although we all know her as Marilyn Monroe, she was actually
born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1st 1926 to her single mother,
Gladys Monroe. Due to her financial and mental incapability,
Monroe's mother placed her in the care of fosters parents in
California very soon after the birth.

Having experienced a very troubled childhood in terms of sexual
abuse and constantly being moved from place to place, Monroe began
to use film as a way to distract herself from a very young age;
"When I was five I think, that's when I started wanting to be an
actress. I loved to play. I didn't like the world around me because
it was kind of grim, but I loved to play house. It was like you
could make your own boundaries... When I heard that this was
acting, I said that's what I want to be."

Always craving to be in front of a camera, Monroe befriended a
photographer in 1944 which kick-started her successful pin-up
modelling career which ultimately lead to two (very short-lived
contracts), one with Twentieth Century Fox from 1946-47, and the
other with Columbia Pictures which only lasted for the year of
1948.

Hollywood Years

As Young As You Feel (1951)

Following a series of minor film roles in the following years,
Monroe finally signed a contract with Fox in 1951 which ultimately
became the turning point in her career and boosted her into the
public eye.

Beginning with a small role in as curvaceous private secretary
in As Young As You Feel (1951), Monroe was portrayed as the young,
glamourous assistant with whom the 'big boss' attempts to begin an
affair. With tight black dresses
and plunging necklines, along with her child like voice and
fluttering lashes, Monroe began to be typecast as the sexy 'dumb'
blonde; something that continued throughout her entire film
career.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

In terms of fashion, it's relatively safe to say that Gentlemen
Prefer Blondes (1953) featured Marilyn's most diverse wardrobe.
Beginning in a floor length red sequinned dress
with a plunging neckline and thigh high slit, Monroe performs Two
Little Girls from Little Rock with fellow actress Jane Russell,
then we see the dazzling orange gown with a bejewelled neckline and
a lot of cleavage, and finally, there is the iconic shocking pink
satin dress and matching gloves which she wears during the Diamonds
Are a Girl's Best Friend sequence.

Monroe portrays showgirl and gold-digger Lorelei Lee, a
character which made her one of Hollywood's most bankable stars,
whilst also establishing her image as the "dumb blonde".

The Seven Year Itch (1955)

Twentieth Century Fox wanted to make Monroe a star pf the 50s as
a way of drawing men to movie theatres, and this could not have
been more apparent than during the filming of The Seven Year Itch
(1955). The film features what is known as Monroe's most famous
scene of all time - the moment in which she is wearing a gorgeous
flowing white dress whilst standing above a subway grate, causing
the dress to blow up and flash a lot of thigh!

The studio decided to generate a lot of hype around the film
before its release, so this iconic scene was filmed on location on
Lexington Avenue in New York, which attracted masses of
photographers who are to thank for the equally iconic white halter
neck dress
photograph that we have all come to associate with Monroe.

T7YI featured the 29 year old actress, yet again, portraying a
model and actress with whom the main protagonist dreams of having
an affair. It became one of Monroe's best known roles, grossing
$4.5 million at the box office.

The Monroe Legacy

Monroe tragically passed away at the very young age of 36 due to
an overdose of barbiturates and it has been speculated whether it
was a suicide or not. However, she has left behind a true legacy in
her wake; Monroe was the true blonde bombshell of the 1950s and she
knew it. Although it is safe to say that she was incredibly type
cast throughout her film career, she was a much loved actress and
singer who is still adored by thousands today.

Create your own casual Monroe outfit by pairing ¾ length crisp
white trousers
with a crisp
shirt and
sandals, or if 'go big or go home' is more your style, grab
that shocking pink dress; buy that white halter neck dress
you've had your eye on. Throw your head back, stand on a subway
grate and live your dream!!!